Gearing up for 2024

Welcome to our regular newsletter with bits & pieces of news about Blythe library-centre

Votes for teenagers

Every year the young teens of this county are asked to vote for their favourite piece of modern young fiction; kids of 11-14 years are encouraged to read from a selection of twenty books, and then pick their favourites from them.
Among the titles this year are such wonderful publications as ‘Postcards from Valhalla’ by Danny Weston, ‘Twelve Bones’ by Rosie Talbot and ‘Nightshade Revenge’ by Anthony Horowitz – and more.
All twenty books on the list can be reserved at Blythe Library. Check out the books by clicking here.
Naturally, youngsters only need to read as many as they can.

Then it’s simply a matter of voting…
Using the online form, pick a favourite – by 15 March this year please.  Enjoy the reads!

Libraries go to Parliament

Public libraries are in the news at the moment: Baroness Sanderson’s report, A Review of Public Libraries, was published this month. We wait to see, with a little trepidation, what the general response will be.

Libraries like Blythe have been involved in the report’s process.  In fact, our very own Helen Bickerton was at Parliament in the autumn (see pic right) as part of a Staffordshire group representing the county’s CMLs (Community-Managed Libraries). Let’s hope Helen’s voice was heard.

Community libraries are having a tough time, especially after being disrupted by the lockdown during Covid, but surely we residents must try our best to hang on to them… 
If this is an issue that interests you, it’s a good idea to follow the @communitylibs thread on Twitter/X.

Design for carers

We all know that carers do not have easy lives, but the North Staffs Carers Group is here to provide some support at least. 
The NSC puts on different activities at Blythe Centre; and carers, the people they care for, and even former carers, are welcome to turn up for them. It’s free to come along.

One such activity is the Design & Technology Club. Volunteer Len Scott, who has a passion for woodwork, runs it. He helps folk sketch out a design and build their idea into a prototype, using donated wood.
This Design Club takes place at Blythe on every first Wednesday of the month (see our What’s On page).

For more info on this and other NSC activities at Blythe, please email Jane Willis janewillis@carersfirst.com.

Crafting together

Finally, a wonderful photograph showing the joy of just being together…

As many of you will have guessed, this is the Blythe Centre Crafts4All group enjoying their Xmas celebration at the library. 
The group had a rebirth back in last April, driven forward by Laura and Janet, and have gone from strength to strength, becoming along the way not just a weekly group of craft-makers but true friends.

So… a happy 2024 to regulars Cynthia, Maureen, Trina, Mavis, Sheila, Beryl, Gale, Pat, Sarah, Natasha, Sharon, Steph, Laura and Janet.
If you want to find out more about the group… just check our Events pages.

Please give us your thoughts on any of the news in this article – write something in the Comments Box, which is further down this page.